NHS expands cancer scanning capacity with AI and new equipment

The NHS in England has increased its diagnostic imaging capacity with 125 additional CT and MRI scanners and the wider introduction of AI-assisted MRI technology. According to figures published by NHS England on 3 November 2026, the expansion has enabled community diagnostic centres to perform approximately one million more scans annually compared with two years earlier. The investment aims to reduce diagnostic waiting times and improve access to cancer testing and treatment.

Between March 2024 and March 2026, the number of CT and MRI scanners available to the NHS increased by 125. Most of these machines, 107 in total, were installed in community diagnostic centres (CDCs), which provide diagnostic services outside traditional hospital settings.

Additional capacity

These centres performed nearly 2.2 million CT and MRI examinations in the 12 months ending March 2026, approximately one million more than during the corresponding period two years earlier. The additional capacity comes amid growing demand for diagnostic imaging. According to NHS England, every month of 2026 up to the latest reporting period has recorded the highest diagnostic activity for that particular month.

Although diagnostic waiting lists have declined in three of the five months since April, demand continues to place pressure on services. CT and MRI examinations play an important role in diagnosing several cancers, including lung, brain, breast and prostate cancer. Expanding access to these investigations could help shorten the time between referral, diagnosis and treatment.

AI reduces MRI examination times

Alongside investment in new equipment, the NHS is introducing AI-based MRI acceleration software to improve the efficiency of existing scanners.The technology uses AI-supported image reconstruction to produce diagnostic images from less acquired data, allowing examinations to be completed more quickly while maintaining image quality.

According to NHS England, hospitals using the technology can perform an average of 14 percent more scans, creating additional appointments without requiring a proportional increase in scanner numbers. AI acceleration software has already been installed on 54 percent of compatible NHS MRI scanners.

The health service plans to offer every NHS trust the opportunity to upgrade compatible equipment by 2029. NHS England estimates that a complete rollout could enable up to 162,000 additional MRI examinations annually using existing scanners. The initiative focuses on increasing imaging capacity rather than replacing radiologists. Medical specialists remain responsible for interpreting the images and making diagnostic decisions.

AI in prostate cancer diagnosis

The expansion of imaging capacity complements other NHS initiatives investigating how AI can accelerate cancer diagnosis. As we previously reported, the NHS is also evaluating AI technology designed to identify suspected prostate cancer from MRI scans and provide results within one day. The programme involves testing AI-assisted analysis of prostate MRI examinations, with the aim of identifying suspicious abnormalities more quickly and prioritising patients who require further investigation.

Unlike MRI acceleration software, which reduces the time needed to acquire images, AI-based diagnostic systems analyse the resulting scans to support clinical assessment. Both approaches address different stages of the diagnostic pathway. Faster image acquisition can increase the number of patients examined, while automated image analysis could potentially reduce delays between scanning and clinical interpretation. However, the clinical effectiveness and safety of AI-assisted diagnostic interpretation must be established through appropriate evaluation before such systems can be routinely relied upon.

Diagnostic services closer to patients

Community diagnostic centres are another central element of the NHS strategy to improve access to diagnostic services. The Manchester and Trafford Community Diagnostic Centre, which officially opened on 29 October 2026 following an investment of £19.2 million, is the latest example. The facility provides additional diagnostic capacity outside conventional hospital departments, allowing patients to undergo examinations closer to home.

According to NHS England, the combination of community-based facilities, additional scanners and AI-enabled imaging is intended to reduce waiting times and support earlier diagnosis. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England's National Clinical Director for Cancer, emphasised that reducing the time patients spend waiting for test results can make an important difference, particularly when cancer is suspected.

The Royal College of Radiologists has welcomed the investment in diagnostic equipment while highlighting the importance of having sufficient qualified professionals to interpret scans and provide treatment. Although the additional imaging capacity represents a measurable expansion of NHS services, its longer-term effects on cancer outcomes and overall waiting times will require continued evaluation.